Key pouch



Jan. 29, 1952 D, J. NASH ETAL 2,583,961

KEY POUCH Filed Aug. s, 1948 Fulla 4Z 60 2 SHEETS--SHEET l BY Page?? MPF/FLE( um L ATTORNEYS Jan. 29, 1952 D, NASHr ET AL 2,583,961

KEY PoUcH Filed Aug. 5, 1948 2 SHEETS- SHEET 2 Patented Jan. 29, 11,952

KEY POUCH Daniel Julius:` Nash, Jersey City, and Robert L. Hatfield, East Orange, N. J., assignors, by direct and. mesne assignments, to` Nash Inc., JerseyY City, N. vJ., a corporationv of New Jersey ApplcationAugust 3, 1948, SeralNo. 42,266'

,l 4 claims. l

The present invention relatesgenerally to key containers of the type comprising a pouch whereinA the` keys are normally disposed out of sight, the. pouch having manually `operable means therewith for ejecting the keys from the pouch into position for use. The present invention is arr-improvement over the key pouch of thisgen` eral type as disclosed and claimed in our priorv Patent No. 2,176,677, granted October if?, 1939, and relates tothe specific means for ejecting the keys from Within the pouch.

While the device of our prior patent has been very satisfactory, it has been founddesirable to provide different means for actuating the key advancing mechanism. The main object of the present invention, therefore, isthe provision of means,`moving along a curved-rather than a straight linepath for actuating the key advancing mechanism. Our device comprises a pouch, open at its lower end, within which is contained a key supporting` plate, advancing or extending means for the plate disposed within the pouch, and manually operable actuating means for the plate within the pouch, portions thereof extending outwardly of the pouch at the upper side ends thereof. Formerly, as in our prior patent, these portions were adapted to be reciprocated in a straight line path for actuating the extending means. Now, however, we propose to actuate these means along a curve thereby to reduce resistance to movement, and make the extension of the key plate more'positive.

Another object of our invention is the provision of 'actuating means, in a device of the character described,` pivoted at one end thereof, the other end being movable inwardly of the device along a curved path to operate the key plate extending means.

Still another object of the present invention is' the provision, in a device of the character described, of key plate advancing or extending means comprising a pair of oppostely disposed, pivotally mounted finger pieces, moving towards each other along curved paths and downwardly inthe direction of the line of advance.

In the drawings annexed hereto, and forming a part hereof,

Figure 1 is a part elevational, part vertical sectional view, of the operating portion of one form of key pouch constructed according to and embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view thereof illustrating the advancing means in extended position;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section through the devicealong the line 3--3 of Fig; 1;

Fig. lrisa vertical section on the linei4-4 of. Fig; 3;

Fig. 5 is a detail section on the line 5--5 of` Fig. 1; and

Fig. 6 isa front elevational view of the device in normal, at rest, position with a portion of the pouch cut away to reveal the position of the keys and key plate inside the pouch.

The device, as a unit, comprises, a flat, thin keysupporting plate I0, means toreciprocably advance same out of the enclosing pouch and back thereinto, said means being indicated generally by reference numeral I2, and the pouch,. indicated by vreference `numeral I4.

The pouch I4may be formed of leather, fabric, plastic material or otherwise, as desiredeither of two similarly sized and. shapedpieces joined together at the top and along the side edges, or. of a single piece folded along a vertical median line. The pouch isy relatively thin, and is open as at I6 along its lower horizontal edge I8. A- pair of openings 20, 20 are provided at the upper corners of pouch I4. The upper end of`pouch I4 is indicated by reference numeral 22.

Inside pouch I4, and. along the upper edge thereof is secured a receptor plate 311,. of inverted Ushaped` in section, fastened to pouch I4 asby glue, rivets or otherwise. Plate 30 may be formedA of thin, light gauge metal. as by stamping or otherwisaand has a fiat :rear wall component. 32 a front Wall.36, and an intermediate` bridge piece 34locatedagainst the up'- per inner edge ofthe pouch.

A pair of hollow finger pieces 43, 40 are mounted on receptor 3D between walls 32, 36, forcpivotal movement, as follows; Each finger piece 40, which may be .stamped of light gauge metal, or formed of some plastic material'as desired, comprises an outwardly curved enlarged head portion 42 at the top thereof which normally extends out'of the pouch corner openings 20, 2D beyond the` marginal edges of the pouch, and a narrow leg portion 44 extending downwardly therefrom reaching between. walls 32, 36 adjacent their,`

lower edges, asby meansof outwardly bent lugs 45, 46 fitted-into sector shaped openings 48,748 in the walls 32,36. Lugs 46, 46 are relatively short, `flat and straight, and their movement in slots 48, 4B is limited by the upper and. lowerVv ends of each pair of links are pivotally connected Y to the ends of the adjacent link pairs, as by rivets 54, 54. While in the present embodiment of our invention, three pairs of links 58, 58 are shown, more or fewer pairs may be used. The terminals 58, 58 of the uppermost pair of links 58, 58 are' pivotally connected to the inner and upper reaches of `the finger pieces'48, 48, as by pins 68, 68 extending through aligned openings in pieces 40, terminals 58 (see Fig. 3) and through hollow spacing tubes 62, 62.

The terminals 18, 18 of the lowermost pair of links 50, 58 have pins 12 and slot 14 connections I8, as shown in Fig. 1. edge 'I6 thereof, is provided with a plurality of with the upper end of the key supporting plate f Plate I0, at the lower.

key holding loops or clips 18, 18 from whichrkeys, 4

as 88, may be suspended. Means are provided to contract the lazy tongs system within pouch I4, which consists of a spring 82, having a centrally formed helical coil 84, the free ends 86, 86 of the spring terminating in hooked fingers 88, 88 pivotally connected to rivets 54, 54 of adjacent link pairs (see Fig. 2). This construction normally draws the links of the lazy tongs system together, bears key plate I8 with keys 88 thereon into pouch I8, and in like mannervurges the heads 42, 42 of finger pieces 48, 48 to extend outwardly out of the corner openings 28, 28 while defining the limit-with sector openings 48-of movement.

When it is desired to extend the key plate I8 out of pouch so as to expose keys 88 for use, iinger pieces 48, 48 are pressed towards 'each other against the normal ytensioning of the spring`82. Pivoting about lugs 46,v 46 in openings 48, 48, the nger pieces move inwardly, along a curved path, as in Figure 2, and downwardly in the direction of extension of the lazy tongs system. The sides of the arc of sector openings 48, 48 limits the eX-l tent of inward movement of the nger pieces, the length of such movement being such as to ensure the extension of the lower edge ofhplate I8 slightly beyond the pouch opening i6, at the lower end I8 thereof.

Means are provided for holding the tongs system under extension, these means comprising an enlarged button 98 extending forwardly of the central pivot of the uppermost pair of links outwardly of receptor plate 38 through a vertically extending slot 92 in front wall 36 thereof, and a rocking detent plate 94 mounted on the front face of wall 36. The lower edge 96 of plate 94 is normally urged, by a spring 98 'trapped beneath the upper edge |88 of plate 94 and between it and wall 39, inwardly towards the wall. As button 98 moves downwardly with the lazy tongs system, it moves underneath and lifts edge 96, and rides past the same, edge 96 of the plate Vdropping against wall 36 when button 98 has cleared. Edgel 96 will thereupon act as a stop to prevent button 98 from returning up slot 92, holding the tongs system in extension. In order to release the tongs,k for return into pouch I8, the opposite end |88 of rocking plate 94 is pressed inwardly against the biasing of spring 98, raising the lower edge 96 and permitting the return movement under the inuenceof coil spring 84.

Having described our invention, what we claim mechanism including a lazy tongs system of links comprising a plurality of pivotally connected pairs of pivotally connected links, the plate being connected to and movable with the lower end of the lazy tongs system, actuating means for said system to move the plate toward and away from the first mentioned opening. and project and retract keys on the plate out of and back into the case through said opening, said actuating means including a spring normally urging the links in one direction, andnger pieces pivotally connected by .One end thereof to the upper end of the links for actuating same against the influence of said spring, the other end of the finger pieces being pivoted about a point spaced from said connected end.

2. A key pouch comprising a generally rectangular casinghaving an opening across the full'width thereof at one end, a pair of openings at the upper corners of the opposite end of the case, a key supporting plate and ejecting mechanism therefor disposed and secured 4within the case, the ejecting .mechanism including a. lazy tongs system of links composed of a plurality of pivotally connected pairs of pivotally connected links, the plate being connected to and movable with one end of the lazy tongs system, actuating means for said system to shift the plate' toward and away from the rst referred to opening, andi projectV and retract vkeys on the plate out of and back into the case through said opening, saidactuating means including a spring ynormally urging the links in one direction, and a pair `of finger pieces rotatably connected at one end thereof -to the links for actuating same against the normal biasing of said spring, the said end of the finger pieces being movable towards eachv other along an arcuate path downwardly in 'the direction of the ejecting movement, the other end of each of said nger pieces pivoting about a point spaced from the link-connected end thereof. 3. A key pouch comprising a generally rectangular casing having an opening at one` end thereof acrossthe full width of the casey and a pair of openings at the upper corners ofv the opposite end ofthe casea receptor platefsecured inside the casing adjacent the upper end thereof, a key supporting plate and ejecting mechanism therefor reciprocably disposed within the i case, the ejecting mechanism including a lazy tongs system of links comprising a plurality ofpivj otally connected pairs of pivotally .connected links, the key supporting plate beingconnected to and movable along with one end of the` lazy tongs system, actuating means for said system to move the plate toward and away from the first opening and project and retract keys; onthe plate out of and back into the case through said opening, said actuating means including a spring normally urging the .links in one direction, and finger pieces on the receptor plate pivotally con-l. nected at one end of the said piecestov the links for actuating same against the inuence of the spring, the other ends of the finger piecespivoting on the receptor plate about a point Yspaced from the link-connected ends of `said finger pieces. Y- A f ,Y

4. A key pouch comprising a generally rectangular casing havingV an opening across the full width of the case at the lower endthereof, a pair of openings at the upper corners ofv theycase at the upper end thereof, a receptor plate-disposedjinsidethe casing at Ythe upper end7 thereof, a key supporting plate and ejecting mechanism therefor disposed within the case connected to the receptor plate, the ejecting mechanism inthe plate out of and back into the case through 1o said opening, said actuating means including a spring for actuating the links normally in one direction, and nger pieces normally projecting out of the corner openings, swingably mounted on the receptor plate, one end of each of the finger pieces being connected to the links for actuating same in the direction against the normal biasing of said spring, the other ends of the iinger pieces swinging about a point spaced from the link-connected ends of the finger pieces, said linger pieces on pivoting thereof moving inwardly towards each other and downwardly along a curved path toward the open lower edge of the CaSe.

DANIEL JULIUS NASH. ROBERT L. HATFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the A file of this patent:

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 510,317 Berry Dec. 5, 1893 1,383,632 Hoffman July 5, 1921 2,176,677 Nash Oct. 17, 1939 2,176,863 Nash Oct. 17, 1939 2,242,141 Nash May 13, 1941 2,454,059 Heaney Nov. 16, 1948 

